what states can you become a lawyer without going to law school

by Alize Raynor I 5 min read

Pick your location carefully if you want to become a lawyer without going to law school. Only four states—California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington—allow potential law students to skip law school entirely.Dec 2, 2019

Which states allow lawyers to practice without a law degree?

Currently, Washington, Vermont, California and Virginia are the only four states that allow this process. Wyoming, New York and Maine allow lawyers to practice without earning a J.D. degree, although they must have at least some law school experience.

Can I become a lawyer without going to Law School?

It's possible to become a practicing lawyer without going to law school in some states. Most lawyers do attend law school, but there are some advantages to avoiding it if you can manage it. You'll avoid the high cost of law school and perhaps gain more on-the-ground experience shadowing a working lawyer.

Can you take the bar exam without going to Law School?

There are just a few states that allow people to take the bar exam without going to law school. Instead, these bar exam applicants have studied the law with the assistance of a lawyer, doing something called “reading the law.” Four states currently allow this:

Can you practice law without a JD degree?

Wyoming, New York and Maine allow lawyers to practice without earning a J.D. degree, although they must have at least some law school experience. A legal apprenticeship may be able to substitute for one or two years or school. If you plan to live in any other state, you will have to complete law school to practice as a lawyer.

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What state is easiest to become a lawyer?

Easiest Bar Exam to Pass in the U.S.RankState Bar ExaminationCalculated Average LSAT1California160.682Louisiana154.793Washington158.124Oregon158.8344 more rows

What state does not have a law school?

The only state without a law school, Alaska needs one to help make legal services more available and affordable, a lawmaker contends.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar?

Kim Kardashian celebrated passing the “baby bar” with some cheddar bay biscuits. The reality star learned that she passed the First-Year Law Students' Examination in December 2021 while sitting in her car in front of a Red Lobster restaurant.

Can I become a lawyer without going to law school?

Only four states—California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington—allow potential law students to skip law school entirely. Three others—Maine, New York, and Wyoming—require some law school experience, but they allow an apprenticeship to substitute for one or two years of law school.